Virtual Mode of Education Hit by The Pandemic

With the rise of Covid-19, schools and colleges have shut down worldwide, resulting in a drastic change in education. There is a distinct rise in virtual learning, where teaching happens remotely and on the digital platform. Students across the globe found it very difficult to switch from in-class learning to digital media. Adopting online classes made it difficult for the students, leading to distractions such as social networking apps.

At the same time, students from remote areas faced many issues due to the lack of internet connectivity and the competing needs among the family members due to limited devices. Virtual learning has provided an opportunity for educators to identify and create new strategies to teach concepts.

Some of the issues faced by students are:

Stress or Anxiety: Students face stress and anxiety with the ongoing situation caused due to the Pandemic. They are anxious about going back to regular school and college life.
Disappointment or sadness: Virtual classrooms have caused dismay in students as there is a huge communication gap between the students and the educators. This disappointment leads to unhappiness, making them feel stressed.
Loneliness or Isolation: Staying home for more than a year has made the students feel lonely, as they don’t get to meet their friends, and this loneliness has caused them to feel isolated from the social world.
Loss of Loved ones: Some families have lost loved ones due to the Covid-19. This situation has made some students feel depressed, which has affected their education.
Lack of Internet connectivity: Students from rural areas found it difficult to attend classes virtually as there was poor internet connectivity due to a lack of network. Due to lack of internet connectivity, students could not learn or know what was happening in their classes leading to mental stress.
Financial setback: Students from an economically low background could not afford a device to attend their classes virtually. Some students went to the extent of dropping out of school and started working as laborers to support the family for a day’s meals.
Lack of Communication: Students who are introverts found it challenging to communicate with their educators. Some students prefer to interact with their educators personally. Sometimes, it’s hard for them to talk about their issues during the virtual classes.

Parent’s role in helping the students cope up with the new normal:

Parents should help the child create and stick to a routine: Parents and the children should work together to create a schedule that would work for the students. Virtual classrooms are not like regular classrooms. Parents should set up a sustainable routine that could help them accommodate both their needs.
Individualized learning should be a priority for parents: If the parent finds that the child is not working up to the mark or is not completing the tasks on time, the parents should contact the educators and develop a more practical approach.
Parents should motivate and encourage their children: Parents should take an interest and motivate their children and help them learn. The child will require initial support or a push that should be focused on gradually becoming independent.
Parents should stay connected: Parents should discuss all the queries and concerns related to their child with the educators, who are willing to help and advise them. Parents should also reach out to other parents, set some virtual playtime, and help them connect with their friends frequently to release their mental stress.